Alienware leads MSI by five points on a 100-point scale based on a report card system covering everything from the feel of the keyboard to end-user warranty options.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Laptop-Mag-crowns-Alienware-as-the-best-gaming-laptop-brand.234840.0.html
All the criteria for assessing hardware ultimately is based on cost but it is the one criteria you and PC mag fail to take into account... yet nearly every purchaser is very sensitive to this criteria
Its called "Bangs for your Buck"
Laptopmag's judgement has little credibility. For instance, the staff doesn't even seem to be aware of Clevo or any other global scale manufacturers, nor have they actually reviewed laptops from each product line of each brand mentioned on their "list". Then again, they're only a magazine site, like a tabloid, so no issues here.